Hinge connection for recliner



May 3l, 1955 HINGE CONNECTION FOR RECLINER` A. J. BELISLE 2,709,480

Filed June '7, 1954 HlNGE CNNECTION FOR RECLINER Atielard Si. Belisle, South Hadley Falls, Mass., assignor to The Berlrline Corporation, Chicopee Falls, Mass., a corporation of Tennessee Application .lune 7, 1954, Serial No. 434,878

3 Claims. (Cl. 155-116) This invention relates to hinge connection for chairs.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a hinge connection for the seat and frame of a chair which is characterized by brake means.

As distinguished from rocking chairs where a seat is mounted for back and forth rocking movements on a base, the hinge connection of the invention is adapted for use in connection with a chair commonly called a recliner wherein a combined seat and back are tiltable between a sitting position of the occupant and a reclining position thereof.

The connector of the invention having components for securement to the frame and to the combined seat and back is adapted whereby the occupant of the recliner may position the seat and back between a sitting position and various reclining positions.

According to prior art connectors or hinge means, it is difficult if not impossible for the occupant of the recliner to position the seat and back in an intermediate reclining position. There is a tendency for the seat and back to assume a full reclining position which is objectionable.

According to the novel features of the connector of this invention, the seat and back may be mounted for movement between a sitting position and various reclining positions and is characterized by means operative to brake the action of the connector to overcome shocks at the extremes of movement while at the same time operating to position the seat and back in an intermediate reclining position.

All of the above objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangements of parts thereof, as will fully appear by a perusal of the description below and by various specific features which will be hereinafter set forth.

To the above cited and other ends and with the foregoing and various other novel features and advantages and other objects of my invention as will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed and more fully described and referred to in connection with the accompanying drawings where 1n:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a recliner having the connector of the invention associated therewith; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional plan Views on the lines 2-2 and 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

A side frame 2 is provided which has forward and rear posts 4 and 6, arm rest 8, base part 10 and longitudinal support l2. The parts are secured together by any suitable means and there are two spaced-apart side frames secured by any suitable transverse means. The side frames may take any form desired and may, of course, be upholstered States atent ice in a manner well known in the art. The secured together frames are sometimes referred to as chassis.

A seat and back 14 between the side frames is usually formed by transversely spaced and secured together side members having seat and back portions 16 and 18. This will be called a seat and will be upholstered in the well known manner.

The connector of the invention consists in a general way of a base 20, swingable seat supporting link 22 and brake 24.

The base 20 will be formed from an elongated bar or strip of metal secured at its inner end to the chassis support by a bolt or screw 26.

The lower end of the brake member 24 has a bushing 28 rotatable therein and a stove bolt 30 extends through the bushing 28, outer end of base 29, and support 12, as shown in Fig. 3. The parts are arranged for free swinging of the brake relative to the support and securement of the outer end of the base to said support.

The link 22 formed from a strip of metal has its lower end pivoted at 32 to the base 20 and. its upper end is secured to the seats by spaced apart screws or bolts 34, see Fig. 2.

With the link connected to the seat and pivoted to the base which is fixed to the support, the seat may be moved by the occupant of the chair between sitting and reclining positions.

The brake is formed from an elongated strip of metal and is provided with an elongated slot 36. A carriage bolt 38 has a square portion 4t) slidable but non-rotatable in the slot 36 and said bolt extends rather freely through link 22. An opening e2 is provided in the seat to permit access to an adjusting nut 44 of bolt 3S.

A springr 46 is disposed between the nut 44 and link 22. A cup shaped spring washer 48 is disposed between the link 22 and brake 24 and a similar washer 5l) is disposed between brake 24 and head of bolt 3S.

It will be understood that there are two of the connectors one at each side of the recliner and connecting the supports of the chassis with the seat for movements thereof.

The link and base connected to the seat and base facilitate swinging of the seat relative 'to the frame between sitting and reclining positions of the occupant.

As the link 22 swings relative to the base 2t) the bolt 38 slides in opposite directions in the slot 36 of member 24. Resistance to relative movement of the link and brake is oifered by the spring i6 and washers 43 and 50 whereby the seat may be brought to rest in any desired reclining position. The danger of the seat slamming to the limit of its movement is overcome.

The braking action may be varied by adjustment of nut d4 and the bolt 3S reaching the ends of the slot 36 may function to limit movement of the seat if desired.

, There may, of course, be other stop means for the seat if desired.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purviewand range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by `Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A unitary connecting device for the seat and support of a reclining chair comprising, a brise member for securing to said support, `a link pivotally connected at one end to said bas-e member and adapted at its opposite end for connection to said seat, a brake pivotally connected at one end to said base member and frictional connections between said brake and link.

2. A unitary connecting device for the seat and sup port of a reclining chair comprising, an elongated base member for securing to a support, a link pivotally connected at one end to said base for swinging of said link provided at its opposite end with means for securing to a seat whereby said seat is supported for swinging between setting and reclining positions, a brake pivotally connected at one end to said base and having a free end, and frictional connections between the free end of said brake and link adapted to resist relative movements of said brake and link, said connections including an elongated slot provided in said brake and a bolt extending through said slot and link and spring means urging said link and brake together.

3. A device for swingably connecting the seat to the support of a reclining chair and for resisting the swinging action of the seat relative to the support comprising, an

elongated link and an elongated brake, means for pivotally connecting corresponding ends of said link and brake to a support in spaced relation providing free ends of said link and brake, the free end of said link arranged for securing to a seat whereby the seat is swingably mounted on the support, and frictional connections between the free ends of said link and brake including a bolt carried by the free end of said link slidable in an elongated slot provided in the free end of said brake and spring actuated friction means on said bolt urging said link and brake into frictional engagement to resist relative movements thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,776,418 Dujardin Sept. 23, 1930 1,896,048 Grinnell Ian. 31, 1933 2,006,277 Olsen lune 25, 1935 2,346,629 Travers Apr. 1l, 1944 

